Turf cultivator



Nov. 11,1941.y F. R. DoNoHo .E1-AL 1 2,262,546

TURF cULTvAToR Filed April 15, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l Suma/whom @M Mm #7%.

Nov. 111, 1941. F, R, DONOHO ETA-L y 2,262,546

TURF CULTIVATOR Filed April l5, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SWW/whom n Patented Nv.11,1941

q UNITED STATES.

PAT

ENT OFFICE(A N v TURF oUL'rIvAToR ,v FrankR. Denohovand Charles C.`Bennett;"v 5

` l Asheville, N.;C. i l 1 Appiiation April 15, 1939, sfiarNeLzsspso* n l solaires` (ci. 111-1) 'lhisflisI ai, continuation-impart of application e v Seria-l `1\Tumfber 2203995;y filed Julyv23, 1938'.

This inventiony relates to a method of and apparatus` for cultivating turf and the like `andr nioreparticularly to such a method and-apparatusladaptable` for use in connection with the care off-golf,` greensfinvolving Athe loosening of the soil underlyingrthe turffwithouteven a temporary impairment-oftheplayingsurface. l ,e

In the maintenance ofgolf greens the art has 'long been faced Withrthe problem of the cultivation of the turfwithoult impairment of the playing surface.- Duringrecent years this problem has become moreV `acute duetto the increasing popularity ofgolfwith the resultantcrowding of the links and packing ofthe `soil underlying the turf. Then, too,` there hasjdevelopedfan increasinglyz-critical attitude on the partof the players withlfrespectto` the l condition ,of `the greens.`

Thus; well maintained greens are required and in'manyjloealities the `problem of providing satisfactory `greens is-,exaggerated bythe prevail ingpractice of playinglgolf throughout the en-` tire year. a

Heretofore l various. practices have been resortedto formaintainingfthe turf in the condition` desiredl One l of these @practices contemplates the provision ofalternate greens, so that one green may be cultivatedduring a period while `theotherisbeing used.` `Such an expedient, however;` involves. the additional. expense in `like involvesthe complete removalof thesod,

the `conditioning of the exposedground, and replacement offv the sod itogether-with reseeding.`

Incident to the maintenance .of the turf 'it is at Y times necessary to :supply` suitable fertilizer thereto. Heretofore the application of fertilizerA has `been by thefdistribution of the same on. the surface, reliance being placed on surface Water ,to1 conductthe same to the -rootsof the turf. Such practice interferes withthe playing surface and is quite inefficient because much of the fertilizer "is Wastede This deficiency in` thel application of fertilizer as x suggestedlhas beenrecognized in the art and attempts have been made to supply the fertilizer to the roots, in amore elilcient manner. Among-the methodsutilized to improve upon the usualv `surface .fertilization procedure is that whichV involves the application of fertilizer,y upon awscariedsurface. It is clear that but slight improvement `in Vapplicationof` fertilizer is had by the `use of the minute openings, made through cultivate*,the1turfincluding where desirable the` theapreparatienandtmaintenance of the alternative greens and at times it` causes: inconven- 1 iencegtotheplayersaV i a Amore common practice heretoforejutili-zed to maintain i the greens in the desired condition involves thevpractice of scarifying'. In lthe scari'fying treatmentthe greens are piercedV at closely` y spaced, pointsjandfthe holes so .formd are so minute as notto impair the playing surfaces.

'Ifo cultivatethe turfby the scarifying method,`

rollers providedl with numerous shortprojecf the lturf l i Itis an object of the present invention to provide an, apparatus for cultivating turf ksuch as that ofgolf greens and the like in whichlpracticalmeans are hadfor 1effectively Working the soil o vei'a ,large` area below the turf so that large scale, cultivation may` be effected without dis- ,l turbing orirnpairing the turf so treated.

Itisalso `contemplated by this invention to" application lof` fertilizenin a mannerwhich involvesthe workingv of` the soil immediately belowth'e turf whileonly spaced slits are madev therethrough, which slits are closed immediately followingthe `working of the soil leaving the surface unimpaired.

Additionally ythis invention has as an object the provisionof'a cultivator for turf involving e a member" adaptablefor working awicle swath of soil immediatelygbeneath the turf, said member being operable vthrough a very narrow slit cut` tions onlne-,surface thereofhavebeen utilized."

Thescarifying *practice` has also been conducted bythe utilization. of. an apparatus having flat discs the-edges of: which out very ne lines in the surface` of the .i green and in .this way provide some measureoi" cultivation.` However, it will be clear,` that treatments which involve a cultivation, mrelycoextensive i111 area with the, area piercedg will .e either deleteriously affect the `play- `ingsurface orprovide onlya negligible cultivation.V y e e 1 Still `another procedure which vrhas been utilizedin .the maintenance offgolf greens and the adjacent turf while maintaining the surface of the turf in substantially unchanged condition thereby to permit the proper maintenance of the turf without substantial interruptions in the use thereof is contemplated. I

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a preferred form of the invention shown in operative position;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a cultivator formed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 3 is a view of the machine shown in Figure 2 in side elevation illustrating the position assumed thereby during transportation or storage;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; l

Figure 5 is a detail view of the plow member of the machine showing means for vertically adjusting the same;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan View of the plow member;

Figure 7 is a detail View of the fertilizer distributor;

Figure 8 is a detail View of the clevis of the machine of Figure 1 shown in latched position; and

Figure 9 is a detail View of the clevis of the machine of Figure 1 shown in unlatched position.

Now in referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral I designates a frame which is formed of two sections I I. Secured between the sections II at the forward end of the frame I0 is a composite roller I2 having two sections I3 and I4 and a circular blade I clamped therebetween. Sections I3 and I4 and blade I5 are keyed to a shaft I6 which is journaled in the respective frame sections II.

Arranged rearwardly of the roller I2 and supported by the frame is a plow and fertilizer assembly I1. The plow and fertilizer assembly includes a hopper I8 having a sloping lower wall I 9 in the form of a truncated cone. At the point Where lower wall I9 is truncated there is provided a screened eccentrically arranged opening l of adjustable size through which fertilizer or other soil treating material is adapted to be discharged. A shaft 2I provided with arms 22 and 23 isy centrally arranged within the hopper I8 having its lower end suitablyjournaled at 24 and extending below the hopper I8. Radial vanes 25 are keyed to the shaft 2| and rotate therewith for the purpose of discharging the powder from housing 26 in which the radial vanes are contained. A bearing 21 in which is journaled a laterally extending shaft 28 is mounted upon the lower portion of the hopper and this shaft has provided on the inner end thereof a bevel gear 29 which meshes with a bevel gear 38 keyed upon shaft 2|.

The plow and fertilizer distributor assembly I1 is also provided with a plow shank 3l which is in alignment with circular blade I5 and acts as a wedge in the turf and carries on its lower end a space forming member 32 in the shape of a flat plate having an arcuate trailing end 33 and a sharpened forward edge 34. The flat plate 32 has secured thereto a diverging plate 35 of generally rectangular conguration. Plate 32 is arranged at an angle to the plow shank with its rear end 33 elevated, whereas plate 35 which is rigidly secured to the underside of plate 32 is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the plow shank. Teeth 36 are secured to the underside of the plow arranged laterally in an angular this construction, the rotation of roller I2, as

the machine is moved over the ground during operation, causes the discharge of the fertilizer from the hopper in the manner previously indicated. A large pulley 43 is keyed to shaft 28 inwardly of sprocket 42. Support 44 is mounted at the forward end of frame I0 and has Secured thereto a case 45 for the flexible shaft 46 where the latter is keyed to shaft 41 on which pulley 48 ismounted. A belt 49 is passed over pulley 43 and thence over pulley 48 which is driven at a very high speed, although roller I2 from which it derives its motion is normally operated at a low speed. Flexible shaft 46 extends downwardly through tube 31 and carries at its lower end a rotor 59 provided with radially extending vanes 5 I, and since this rotor will be operated at a very high speed it will cause the violent broadcasting of fertilizer as it is discharged from the tube 31 above the rotor 5U.

Hopper I8 is rigidly secured in a fixed position upon the frame Ill by a bracket 52 and the plow and plow shank are adapted to be moved relative thereto, thereby to control the depth at which the plow operates within the soil, the telescoping arrangement of the flared portion of the tube 31 and discharge outlet 39 of the hopper permitting this adjustment without effecting a sufficient separation of the members to cause the loss of fertilizer therebetween. The plow and plow shank are adjusted through the medium of a clamping bolt 53 riding in the slot 54 arranged in the plow shank.

The rear end of the machine is maintained properly spaced from the surface of the ground by means of a roller 55 mounted upon an axle 56 secured in the frame I0 at 51.

For the purpose of propelling the machine in operation a clevis 58 is secured between the frame sections at the forward end thereof and a rope or cable 59 is utilized to connect the clevis 5B to a draft device 68. Between the machine and the draft device, rope 59 is passed through a ring 6I on guide post 62 so that the operator may view the rope and determine the course to be followed.

'I'he clevis 58, which is illustrated in detail in Figures 8 and 9, consists of a perforated plate 63 which is bolted to frame sections II, being received between the free ends thereof. The perforations 65 in plate 63 are vertically arranged and are adapted to receive a bolt 64 which is passed through the rear end of a pair of coupling plates 66 and through the selected one of the perforations 65 in the perforated plate 63, Coupling plates 66 are recessed at their forward ends to receive the pin 61 of a U-shaped yoke 68 and they have pivoted thereto a hasp 69 which is provided with a short extension 10 for underlying nie Ipmsr Offene `Icke sa when the latter is-` in its` operativeJpositiont` Hasp Ellis main-l tainedxinltthe operative positio'ntby` means of a latchs'I Ifwhich latch is .pivoted between the couplingwplatesf and `isuecessedlat 7.2 above its..` pivotpin '.1'31 for the reception of the end Vof the haspy 69;' and latch "Il is maintained inthe locked position "byvmeans of a coilfspring14iandxa stop memberfIli-ffis` arrangedtbetweenf the coupling membersfntc cooperatev-with .dog 'I8 onlatch` "II" whereby Lthe latchxmember will be heldin positionl forV easyacouplingf A rope or cable fII is ;securedto-fthei free endfof .an upwardlextensecured to the frame sections` |I adjacent the rear portionthereofr@ The hook 801s provided as W'hen'it isdesired` to move themachine `about inra0 position such` thattheblades 3`will not` con-` tact theearth, roller 18| is employed. This roller is attached to `depending ends of the portion of thenframe lID `to which the plowshank 3`Ijis con@ nectedfthrough shaft 82 to` which'crank lever `|33 is keyeds.- Pivotal mounting on the frame iseprovided-kat the pointwhereshaft `82..is located so thatsY the `roller may be Vmoved v about that point as anaxisintcthe positions ofFigure 1 andFigure 3. 1 In` order .to pivot thefroller 8| about its pivot point, levers. are provided foractuating the crank`lever83. To this end a handle 84i's provided attached? to link 85fwhich is pivotally attachedlfatBBLtoz anupwardly ,extending arm of bracket 8'I`permanently secured to cross-bar 88 connecting the handles 19.` The handle 84 is pivotally connected to link 89 which is in turn pivotally connected to the crank lever 83 at 9D.

The operation of the device is as follows. The machine is towed `While in the position shown in Figure 3 to `the situs of the turf cultivation to be accomplished. The ground is then suitably marked off` with guide sticks 82 which are necestween draft equipment andthe clevis 58. The a device is then placed in the position shown in Figure 1 by the movement of handle 84 upwardly to pivot link 85 about its axis at 86. This will function to increase the effective length of link 89 by twice the length of link 85. Since link 89 is pivoted to crank lever 83 at 53, the forward movement of link 89 will cause the crank lever 83 to move about its axis at 82 lifting the roller 8| to the position shown in Figure l. Because of the positionof the fulcrum 82 there will be a considerable `mechanical advantage in the operation of the lever 83 so that the roller 8|` may be be in theposition shown in Figure l. As it is pulled along it will be apparent that rollers I2 and I3 will contactthe surface of the turf and .4.: sary so that the operator may distinguish thatl beavery; narrowv butwillfbe `sufficient to accom.H4 modatexthe shank `3|, which shank actsas a wedge,

forwtheiplow. |I in `sucha manner as to avoid tearing @of the turf. l Beneath the ground, teeth 36` onttheextending `portions 32 and 35 of the] shankf3|willz loosen the soil laterally of the cut madejby the.` disc I5r through which saidwshank passes; As. the groundnis'being Worked vbythe teeth 36, therotation of shaft I6 through contact `of rollers I2 with the turf, willlactuatethe shaft-28 through chain `Ill to drive the fertilizer dispensing` `mechanism 1in the fertilizer -contain-er I8.` The rotation of the vanes 25 will be directly proportional tothe; speed of the device so that the amount of fertilizerdispensed will bepro-`` l portionalto the areaafof; groundcovered.` The Aci At.` this time, the device Will that disc I5 will cut through the turf an amount equivalent to the difference between its radius and that of rollers I2. The cut so provided may fertilizer.v is dispensed `in predetermined amounts through'adjustable opening 20 lea-ding into hous-f ing-26 fromwhence it w-illpass into tube 3'I lead-` ing? `,into the, chamber deiined intermediate Ithe, members32 and 35-where it will bebroadcast by the very rapid rotation of rotor 5|! driventhrough flexible shaft 46from` the pulley 48 by virtue of the belt connection 49`to the large pulley 43y vIt willbe apparent that the rotor 50 vvillbedriven` at a speed.v farvgreater than the dispensing vanes 25 `in housing 26 so that the` broadcast fertilizer willcoven an area substantially coextensivewithlthe pulverized area.

As thegroundis being suitably agitated by, the teeth 38 and fertilized through the action. of broadcastingxdevice `the seam made by thedisc I5 `is `progressivelyclosedmby roller 55,` thus leaving the surface of the turf substantially the'same aspricr to the cultivation. In view of the fact that the seamis so effectively closed by the roller. 55, it is difficult for the operator to determine what area has been covered. Consequently stakes 62 are spaced apart a distance generally commensurate to the width of member 32 so that the area to be cultivated may be worked without leaving small uncultivated portions.

In the event an obstruction is encountered by Y the teeth 36 it is only necessary to pull rope 'I'I to release the clevis 58 as shown in Figure 9.

The device 'is brought again to the position shown in Figure 3 by movement of the handle 84 rearwardly to shorten the effective length of link 89 thus pivoting the roller 8| about the pivot point of shaft 82 until it reaches the operative position.

Although the above description hasv reference to a specific embodiment of the invention, it will beapparent that many modifications thereof are possible.l VThe invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l... In a turf cultivator for golf greens and the like, a frame, rollers supporting the frame at the front and rear thereof, a turf-'splitting disc on the axis of the front roller for cutting a narrow slit in the turf, a very narrow plow shank depending from the frame intermediate the front and rear ends thereof to follow in the path .of said disc, an inclined transverse blade secured to said shank and having its forward edge sharpened, and soil loosening teeth depending down from said blade at opposite sides of the shank, whereby the soil beneath the turf may be .loosened while the turf itself is not mpaired even temporarily by the operation.

2. v.ln a turf cultivator for `golf greens and the like, a frame, rollers supporting the frame at the front and rear thereof, a turf-splitting disc mounted centrally on the front roller for cutting a narrow slit in the turf, a very narrow plow shank depending from the frame intermediate the front and rear ends thereof to follow in the path of said disc, an inclined transverse blade secured to said shank and having its lower edge sharpened, a container for fertilizer mounted on a support, a tube connecting said container with and discharging at the lower side of said blade, means for feeding the fertilizer into the tube, means for broadcasting the fertilizer radially from said discharge point, and soil loosening teeth mounted below said blade at opposite sides of the shank, whereby the soil beneath the turf may be loosened while the turf itself is not impaired even temporarily by the operation.

3. In a turf cultivator for golf greens and the like, a frame, rollers supporting the frame at the front and rear thereof, a turf-splitting disc associated with the front roller for cutting a narrow slit through the turf, a plow shank depending from the frame intermediate the front and rear ends thereof to follow in the path of said turf-splitting disc, said front roller and said plow shank being rigid against rotative movement about a vertical axis, an inclined transverse blade secured to said shank and having its forward edge sharpened to a knife edge, soilloosening teeth mounted on said blade at opposite sides of the shank, means for supporting the frame above the front and rear rollers, and handles for guiding the cultivator extending upwardly and rearwardly from said frame.

4. In a turf cultivator for golf greens and the like, a frame, rollers supporting the frame at the front and rear thereof, a draft tongue extending forwardly of the frame for hitching the cultivator to a draft vehicle, a turf-splitting disc mounted centrally on the front roller for cutting a narrow slit through the turf, an adjustable plow shank depending from the frame intermediate the front and rear ends thereof to follow in the path of said turf-splitting disc, an inclined transverse blade secured to said shank and having its forward edge sharpened to a knife edge, soil-loosening teeth mounted on the underside of said blade at opposite sides of the shank, means for supporting the frame above the front and rear rollers, handles for guiding the cultivator extending upwardly and rearwardly from said frame, and means on said frame for moving the turf-splitting disc and transverse blade into and out of operative position at will, whereby the soil beneath the turf may be loosened while the turf itself is not impaired even temporarily by the operation.

5. In a turf cultivator for golf greens and the like, a frame, rollers supporting the frame at the front and rear thereof, a very narrow plow shank depending from the frame intermediate the front and rearA ends thereof, a turf-splitting means in advance of the said shank and aligned therewith so that the shank follows in the path of the said turf-splitting means, an inclined transverse blade secured to said shank and having its forward edge sharpened, .and soil loosening teeth depending down from said blade at opposite sides of the shank whereby the soil beneath the turf may be loosened while the turf itself is not impaired even temporarily by the operation.

FRANK R. DONO-HO. CHARLES C. BENNETT. 

